Arab-Israeli Conflict: Part 1

Status
Not open for further replies.
The two words that explain tensions over Jerusalem's Old City
By Ian Lee and Oren Liebermann, CNN | Fri July 21, 2017

o-OLD-CITY-OF-JERUSALEM-facebook.jpg

Just two words. That's all it took for former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to explain the source of the tensions over Jerusalem.

Those words were "Terra Sancta," or Holy Land, he told CNN in a 2000 interview.

So what is Terra Sancta? The answer varies depending on whom you ask. All three Abrahamic faiths lay claim to parts of Jerusalem's Old City. The imposing stone walls are home to the holiest sites for Judaism and Christianity and the third most important site in Islam.

But no piece of real estate is more contentious than a hill in the city's southeast corner. The first indication of that complexity might be the fact the compound that sits atop the hill goes by two different names. For Jews, it is known as the Temple Mount; for Muslims, it is the Noble Sanctuary.

Its religious significance dates back to the very beginning, not just of Jerusalem, but of existence, at least as far as the Bible is concerned. At the very heart of the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary is the Foundation Stone, the point at which the Old Testament holds that the world was created. It is also here that the biblical patriarch Abraham came to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith.

Later, two Jewish temples would be erected on this spot. Muslims believe the Foundation Stone was also the destination for Mohammad during his Night Journey; it is from this point that Mohammad ascended to heaven. Today the stone is housed in the Dome of the Rock. The adjacent mosque -- Islam's third holiest -- is called al-Aqsa, which means "the farthest" in Arabic.

Each story connected to the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary has increased the site's significance to the Abrahamic religions, while heightening its sensitivity. Any perceived change to the holy site sends tensions in the Old City and the region soaring.

And in a region where politics and religion are often linked, the site has taken on ever greater political significance. For Palestinians -- both Muslim and non-Muslim -- the site, in particular the Dome of the Rock, has become the symbol of national self-determination.

For Jews, whether secular or religious, control of Jerusalem's Old City -- and with it the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary -- acquired ever greater cultural and historical importance. It was seen as a fundamental step in the return of the Jewish people to their roots, put down thousands of years earlier. The final political status of Jerusalem has confounded peace negotiators for decades.
An uneasy status quo

You have to go back to the Six Day War of 1967 for the last full-scale battle for "Terra Sancta".

When the dust settled, and after Israel had seen off Egypt, Jordan and Syria, in the process occupying vast new tracts of land, it was Jerusalem's Old City, captured from the Jordanians, that was the biggest prize of all.

In a celebration of victory during the war, Israeli soldiers raised the country's flag over the Dome of the Rock. Within minutes, Israel's defense minister ordered the flag removed, careful not to turn a political war into a religious struggle.

Sensitive to the potential explosiveness of the location, Israeli officials met with the Jordanian Waqf -- the body that managed the site -- and came to an agreement on the status quo that has existed, uneasily at times, to this day.

The agreement saw the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary remain under Israeli security control, but the Jordanian Waqf has remained the custodian, determining who is allowed to pray there. While Jews and Christians are permitted to visit, only Muslims are allowed to pray.

It has always remained a potential flashpoint. In September 2000, when then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon made a visit to the holy complex, he said it was to reassert the right of Jews to visit the site. But it was widely seen as a confrontational political act, and it helped spark an already combustible situation into a full Palestinian uprising, known as the Second Intifada. Roughly a thousand Israelis and more than three thousand Palestinians were killed until it finally subsided in 2005.

Ten years later, a round of violence that began in late 2015 saw the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem become one of the hottest flashpoints. A series of Palestinian attacks on Israeli police led to Israel shutting down the once-thriving market that was a hallmark of the historic site.
New tensions over Old City

July 2017 brought yet more tension after three Arab-Israeli men killed two Israeli police officers in the Old City. The three assailants were also shot dead.

Israel closed the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary to everyone but Israeli security officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office tried to alleviate fears by stating, "The status quo will be preserved."

But increasingly it seems the status quo is in the eye of the beholder. Police installed metal detectors at various entrances to the complex following the deadly shooting.

The Waqf, along with other Islamic and political organizations, has rejected the new measures as a flagrant violation, and has accused Israel of unilaterally trying to expand its control over the holy site. Israel says the move was to prevent weapons from being stashed on the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary.

Since the new measures, protests have sprung up in the Old City and in the West Bank. Jordan and other Arab countries have called on Israel to remove the new security measures; the Waqf has told Muslims to pray in nearby streets and alleys instead of passing through the metal detectors.

In the meantime, Palestinian officials warn that, without heeding their calls for a return to the status quo, the security situation could quickly deteriorate as calls for additional protests mount.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/21/middleeast/jerusalem-old-city-explainer/index.html
 
Last edited:
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemns Israel's 'excessive' force at Jerusalem holy site
Saturday 22 July 2017

5c09e3f849374b48649c4144b8b71068bc805ae68b55eca727fe01b8debc3301_4007875.jpg

Turkey has condemned the "excessive" use of force by its regional ally Israel following deadly violence around a contentious Jerusalem holy site.

The country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the criticism after clashes at a shrine in the walled Old City, known as the Temple Mount by Jews and Haram al Sharif by Muslims.

Bloody protests were sparked by the installation of metal detectors at entrances to the sacred compound, which includes the al Aqsa Mosque, following the killing of two Israeli police officers last week.

00f237ecd53162bd0b09ee09c5c421f2b1733265109911166a5368f668a5e8ec_4007866.jpg

Three Palestinians died in confrontations with Israeli security forces after Friday prayers that were held outside in opposition to the security measures.

Hours later, three Israelis were stabbed to death in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Security forces have raided the home of the 20-year-old Palestinian attacker, who had been shot and taken to hospital.

Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said the attacker's home would be demolished.

More troops have also been sent into the West Bank and placed on high alert.

The killings represented the worst Israeli-Palestinian violence for years.

Responding to the clashes at the holy site, Mr Erdogan said: "I condemn Israel's insistence on its position despite all warnings... and the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against our brothers gathered for Friday prayers."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contact with Israel until the removal of metal detectors at the site.

http://news.sky.com/story/turkeys-r...cessive-force-at-jerusalem-holy-site-10957612
 
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemns Israel's 'excessive' force at Jerusalem holy site
Saturday 22 July 2017

5c09e3f849374b48649c4144b8b71068bc805ae68b55eca727fe01b8debc3301_4007875.jpg

Turkey has condemned the "excessive" use of force by its regional ally Israel following deadly violence around a contentious Jerusalem holy site.

The country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the criticism after clashes at a shrine in the walled Old City, known as the Temple Mount by Jews and Haram al Sharif by Muslims.

Bloody protests were sparked by the installation of metal detectors at entrances to the sacred compound, which includes the al Aqsa Mosque, following the killing of two Israeli police officers last week.

00f237ecd53162bd0b09ee09c5c421f2b1733265109911166a5368f668a5e8ec_4007866.jpg

Three Palestinians died in confrontations with Israeli security forces after Friday prayers that were held outside in opposition to the security measures.

Hours later, three Israelis were stabbed to death in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Security forces have raided the home of the 20-year-old Palestinian attacker, who had been shot and taken to hospital.

Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said the attacker's home would be demolished.

More troops have also been sent into the West Bank and placed on high alert.

The killings represented the worst Israeli-Palestinian violence for years.

Responding to the clashes at the holy site, Mr Erdogan said: "I condemn Israel's insistence on its position despite all warnings... and the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against our brothers gathered for Friday prayers."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered the suspension of all official contact with Israel until the removal of metal detectors at the site.

http://news.sky.com/story/turkeys-r...cessive-force-at-jerusalem-holy-site-10957612
Slings have been killing people for thousands of years. You lob a rock at me from a sling I will return fire.
 
Slings have been killing people for thousands of years. You lob a rock at me from a sling I will return fire.

You'd think it would've ended here, but NoOooOoo.

maxresdefault.jpg



Sorta amusing now that the table has turned in terms of military strength and weaponry, but those slings are still every bit as volatile to the situation now, as they were thousands of years ago.
 
Turkey
"Any restriction on Muslims entering al-Aqsa Mosque is unacceptable," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "The protection of the Islamic character and sanctity of al-Quds [Jerusalem] and al-Haram al-Sharif [Al-Aqsa Mosque compound] is important for the whole Muslim world."

"It is unacceptable for the entry of Muslims and Palestinians to the mosque to be blocked," said presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kahn. "We interpret the move as a shift in the status quo at the al-Aqsa Mosque."


Lebanon
In a statement released by his media office, Lebanese President Michel Aoun "condemned and denounced the recurrent Israeli aggressions against the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque and the closure of the doors of the mosque against the worshippers".

"The recurrent Israeli aggressions…are part of an Israeli scheme to target the sacred sites after the usurpation of the land, in its attempt to continue changing the geographic and demographic status quo in Jerusalem," the statement read.


Jordan
Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told the European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini that Jordan is exerting its utmost to restore calm and end the crisis, based on principles of security, stability and Israel's respect of the historical situation in Jerusalem.

He also underscored the importance of the international community to de-escalate the situation and prevent further tensions, by cancelling all Israeli actions that aim to impose new facts on the ground.


Egypt
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Foreign Ministry urged Israel to stop the violence and warned of escalating tensions at the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The statement called on Israel to "stop violence against Palestinians and holy places, and to respect Palestinians' freedom of worship, and not taking more measures that may trigger conflict and decrease the chances of reaching a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution".


Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Council of Ministers called on the international community to bear the responsibility to halt these practices that "deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the globe."

The weekly session, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, described the Israeli act as a dangerous development that would further complicate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.


International Union of Muslim Scholars
The Doha-based International Union of Muslim scholars called for all Muslims to show solidarity with worshippers at al-Aqsa in a "day of anger".

"We call on all Muslims to make this Friday a day of anger against the Zionist actions in Jerusalem and the people residing there," a statement by the group read.


The United States
In a statement released on Wednesday, the White House said it is "very concerned" about the tensions surrounding the compound.

"[The] US calls upon the state of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to make a good faith effort to reduce tensions and to find a solution that assures public safety and the security of the site and maintains the status quo," the statement said.


The European Union
"We call on the state of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to work together and make all efforts to find solutions that ensure security for all, respect the sanctity of this holy site, and preserve the status quo," said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.

"We also call on all political and religious leaders to act responsibly and work towards restoring calm. We will continue to closely monitor the developments."
 
Last edited:
Turkey
"Any restriction on Muslims entering al-Aqsa Mosque is unacceptable," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "The protection of the Islamic character and sanctity of al-Quds [Jerusalem] and al-Haram al-Sharif [Al-Aqsa Mosque compound] is important for the whole Muslim world."

"It is unacceptable for the entry of Muslims and Palestinians to the mosque to be blocked," said presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kahn. "We interpret the move as a shift in the status quo at the al-Aqsa Mosque."


Lebanon
In a statement released by his media office, Lebanese President Michel Aoun "condemned and denounced the recurrent Israeli aggressions against the sanctity of al-Aqsa Mosque and the closure of the doors of the mosque against the worshippers".

"The recurrent Israeli aggressions…are part of an Israeli scheme to target the sacred sites after the usurpation of the land, in its attempt to continue changing the geographic and demographic status quo in Jerusalem," the statement read.


Jordan
Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi told the European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini that Jordan is exerting its utmost to restore calm and end the crisis, based on principles of security, stability and Israel's respect of the historical situation in Jerusalem.

He also underscored the importance of the international community to de-escalate the situation and prevent further tensions, by cancelling all Israeli actions that aim to impose new facts on the ground.


Egypt
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Foreign Ministry urged Israel to stop the violence and warned of escalating tensions at the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The statement called on Israel to "stop violence against Palestinians and holy places, and to respect Palestinians' freedom of worship, and not taking more measures that may trigger conflict and decrease the chances of reaching a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution".


Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Council of Ministers called on the international community to bear the responsibility to halt these practices that "deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the globe."

The weekly session, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, described the Israeli act as a dangerous development that would further complicate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.


International Union of Muslim Scholars
The Doha-based International Union of Muslim scholars called for all Muslims to show solidarity with worshippers at al-Aqsa in a "day of anger".

"We call on all Muslims to make this Friday a day of anger against the Zionist actions in Jerusalem and the people residing there," a statement by the group read.

The restriction of Jewish worship at the site *crickets*
 
So basically all the middle eastern leaders are saying Israel should bow down to allah?
 
Many those rock slings can actually cause some serious injuries, even deaths. Ancient armies used to have them as skirmishers to harass the enemy before the main formation clashed.
 
Many those rock slings can actually cause some serious injuries, even deaths. Ancient armies used to have them as skirmishers to harass the enemy before the main formation clashed.

Scientifically proven!



They don't do much good against riot shields though. Less effective than modern Molotov cocktails or the Venezuelan Poopotov :eek:
 
Last edited:
Hope that shit doesnt escalates, but as predicted by a lot of people, the illegal occupation is untenable.

Was the Temple Mount really "illegally occupied" though? Jordan is supposed to be the ones who administer this area under the current agreement, and only Muslims are allowed to pray here

Yet these Arab "martyrs" somehow evades those who are in charge, and managed to turn the mosque into their weapon cache, and incredibly enough, there's not a single peep from the Arabs world about those who defiled their place of worship with automatic rifles.

At first I wondered if it should be left to Jordan to improve security at this place of worship under their administration, like other "holy sites" in the Middle East all have metal detectors installed ages ago, but then the Jordanian Parliament's Hamas-esque reaction to the terror attack said everything that needed to be said about their attitude about the whole thing.

This was the perfect opportunity for the Arabs leaders to at least pretends to everyone else that they are the peaceful party here, by swiftly condemning the terrorists who brought guns into a mosque and set off this latest escalation episode, just when Israel/Palestine negotiations are opened up again, but I guess they don't even have the acting skill for that.

I tried to read a few news sites from Islamic countries, and they're all blaming the metal detectors as the reason for the bloodshed, while COMPLETELY ignoring the gunmen who sets off new security measures around an otherwise peaceful place of worship.

Soon, the number of hawks in the region who openly or covertly pushed for escalation will soon outnumber the doves who still think negotiation is possible, and then it would just be hardliners on both sides duking it out.
 
Last edited:
The "Holy Land" is inside each of us and all around.

Dumb religions = Dumb conflicts
 
Things are getting tight over there.
 
things are tight everywhere..

Arkain2K goin way out of his way to be retarded

[YT]
 
Was the Temple Mount really "illegally occupied" though? Jordan is supposed to be the ones who administer this area under the current agreement, and only Muslims are allowed to pray here

Yet these Arab "martyrs" somehow evades those who are in charge, and managed to turn the mosque into their weapon cache, and incredibly enough, there's not a single peep from the Arabs world about those who defiled their place of worship with automatic rifles.

At first I wondered if it should be left to Jordan to improve security at this place of worship under their administration, like other "holy sites" in the Middle East all have metal detectors installed ages ago, but then the Jordanian Parliament's Hamas-esque reaction to the terror attack said everything that needed to be said about their attitude about the whole thing.

This was the perfect opportunity for the Arabs leaders to at least pretends to everyone else that they are the peaceful party here, by swiftly condemning the terrorists who brought guns into a mosque and set off this latest escalation episode, just when Israel/Palestine negotiations are opened up again, but I guess they don't even have the acting skill for that.

I tried to read a few news sites from Islamic countries, and they're all blaming the metal detectors as the reason for the bloodshed, while COMPLETELY ignoring the gunmen who sets off new security measures around an otherwise peaceful place of worship.

Soon, the number of hawks in the region who openly or covertly pushed for escalation will soon outnumber the doves who still think negotiation is possible, and then it would just be hardliners on both sides duking it out.

Im not saying it particularly about the site but the situation in general.

Seems to me like this case was just a spark to ignite the conflict and the outright impossible task to defend a civilian population in the middle of an hostile nation.
 
From Mecca to Rome, how do other countries protect their holy sites?
BySeth J. Frantzman | July 19, 2017

389151

Palestinians have accused Israel of infringing on the status quo at the Temple Mount by installing metal detectors after a terrorist attack last Friday. Daily protests, clashes and public prayer outside the Old City’s Lions’ Gate have erupted. The Jerusalem Wakf Islamic trust has called on worshipers to refrain from entering the compound until the detectors are removed.

But how do other countries handle security at sensitive holy sites? In Mecca there are more than 5,000 CCTV cameras and over 100,000 people employed to provide security during the annual Hajj. Like Israel, Saudi Arabia faces terrorist threats and has upgraded its security in recent years.

In June Saudi Arabia stopped a suicide bomber who reports said was planning a terrorist attack on the Grand Mosque in Mecca. In 2015 the International Business Times reported that Saudi Arabia was “issuing pilgrims with electronic bracelets” and was increasing the number of cameras.

Pilgrims on Hajj do not regularly pass through metal detectors in the vicinity of the holy sites, but they do pass through them on the way to Hajj at border controls and at airports.

The Vatican in Rome has also upped security recently amid terrorist threats. In 2015 reports noted that it had installed the highest security in history. In 2015 more than 5,000 extra police were deployed according to reports and checkpoints were set up at St. Peter’s Square. Photos at the Daily Mail showed police searching and patting down nuns. Metal detectors were also installed and photos show nuns and the faithful passing through them. In 2016 the travel guide Frommer’s reported “new security checks to enter St. Peter’s Square.”

This included, according to a traveler at TripAdvisor, “metal detectors and airport-type screening devices.” The public square was previously an open space without security checks.

After terrorist attacks against the Buddhist pilgrimage site Bodh Gaya in Bihar in India in 2013, new security measures were put in place. The government ordered a security audit of the Mahabodhi temple. “Armed protection cover of central paramilitary commandos” were sent to the site, according to The Indian Express.

The Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar has also increased security in recent years. According to a report at Tribune India, after an Islamist attack at Pathankot Air Base, “special police squads equipped with bomb detection sensing devices, were spotted frisking every nook and corner of the shrine,” in January 2016. Visitors also reported CCTV cameras.

The Ismaili Muslim procession in Lahore in Pakistan called Youm-i-Ali has had increased security because of terrorist threats from jihadists.

“Participants of the procession were frisked by security officials,” noted The Express Tribune. “They were then checked using metal detectors.”

CCTV and more than 5,000 security personnel were deployed in June of this year.

Similarly, access to Judaism’s holy site at the Western Wall includes metal detectors, CCTC and armed guards.

However, a Channel 2 report earlier this year noticed that religious Jews visiting the Wall on Shabbat were not subjected to the detectors because passing through them could violate Shabbat.

There are many exceptions to this list where security has not increased or is almost nonexistent.

When I traveled to Japan several years ago there was little security at temples.

The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem does not have visible security to enter, although the police in the Old City and their extensive network of cameras and guards, patrol nearby and keep a close eye on the area. Security increases at the site during special visits.

What unites the use of layers of security from Jerusalem to the Vatican and Mecca is the threat from terrorism, specifically Islamist extremist terrorism that has targeted shrines and pilgrims from India to Europe. In the last decade security has increased dramatically, including metal detectors but mostly in the use of cameras and deployment of armed soldiers and police. This is often to protect the worshipers or the site from attack. In the case of the Temple Mount the Wakf argues that it doesn't want the security, unlike other holy sites or festivals that have sought security for protection.

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Analysis-The-metal-detector-issue-across-the-globe-500187
 
Israel arrests senior Hamas officials in overnight West Bank raids
By Times of Israel staff July 23, 2017,

halamish-2-e1500788393283-635x357.jpg

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency arrested 29 Hamas members, including senior officials of the terror group, in overnight raids in the West Bank.

“The wave of detentions, that included a number of senior Hamas figures, was part of the preventive efforts of the Shin Bet security service and the Israel Defense Forces against the terrorist organizations, particularly during the past week and due to the tension surrounding the Temple Mount and the unrest in the area,” the Shin Bet said in a statement on Sunday morning.

The Shin Bet did not identify the senior Hamas officials who were detained.

A Hamas MP was among those arrested, according to the Israel Hayom daily, which identified him as Omar Abd Al-Razak. The army did not immediately confirm this information.

The crackdown came a day after three members of the Salamon family were stabbed to death in the Halamish settlement in the West Bank. The lethal terror attack unfolded on Friday night when a 19-year-old Palestinian, Omar al-Abed, from a nearby village, burst into their home armed with a large knife and began stabbing the family members, who had gathered to celebrate the birth of a grandson.

The three victims of the Friday night terror attack in Halamish were named on Saturday as Yosef Salomon, 70, his daughter Chaya Salomon, 46, and son Elad Salomon, 36. Yosef Salomon’s wife, Tova, 68, was seriously wounded and taken to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem where she underwent surgery on Saturday morning.

The arrests also came amid ongoing clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces against the installation of metal detectors at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount holy site. The metal detectors were introduced after two Israeli police officers were shot and killed at the holy site on July 14 by Arab Israeli gunmen who smuggled the weapons into the compound.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-arrests-senior-hamas-officials-in-overnight-west-bank-raids/
 
Lmao at people still thinking that Israel is an illegitimate, illegal state. I would just like to point out he amount of land confiscated from the Jews in Arabia was 5x the size of modern Israel. We don't hear a peep abut that though.

BTW when the British divided Hindustan into India and Pakistan millions of people were kicked out of their homeland (virtually all non-Muslims were removed from Pakistan). Yet lefties do not run around crying that Pakistan is an illegitimate state and should be disbanded. It's a stunning act of hypocrisy.

And during that partition, there were some 2 million deaths, and 14 million people displaced. Yet, not a peep about it from the "anti-colonial" left. They reserve all their hate for one group alone, and then call others racist.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top